Topics

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Moon over Maalaea Bay, Maui Thriller, 1st Editorial Review, 5 Stars

With the release of my Maui romantic thriller approaching, June 13, reviews are just starting to come in. Here is the first editorial review, rating the story 5 Stars:

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

Lee Brandt sees his dreams crashing and turning into a nightmare on his wedding
night in Maui in Moon over Maalaea Bay by H.L. Wegley. Jennifer Akihara is
kidnapped on her wedding night in Maui by an international trafficking group
and they have plans to take revenge on her by selling her into slavery.
Jennifer had earlier stopped their trafficking plans which makes them want to
ruin her by using her for other purposes. Lee, along with his foster daughter
Katie and Jennifer's father, begins the search for Jennifer with the help of
the Maui police and the federal government. The twist happens when Katie is
also taken by the traffickers. Will Lee succeed in saving both Jennifer and
Katie? Will Jennifer be able to survive if she is sold?

This is a compelling story of mystery and suspense and relationships that will
keep readers riveted. Shifting the focus from the sweet romance of Lee and
Jennifer and then switching over to the nightmare of Jennifer being kidnapped
has been done effortlessly by the author without it sounding forced. The action
and drama in the theme with its innumerable twists and turns help in keeping up
the pace of the story. All the characters are well defined and Maui as the
backdrop of the story gives it an exotic vibe. The interrogation scenes in the
story add the much needed punch to the plot and the romance and suspense make
it a bittersweet read. I found the story compelling. There are a lot of things
happening simultaneously which the author has woven together well.

In an instant the Maui
honeymoon of Lee's dreams morphs to a nightmare when Jennifer disappears on
their wedding night. Were the abductors the trafficking ring Jennifer crippled
or does an even a more sinister organization want her for other purposes.

With the clock ticking toward Jennifer's impending sale,
Lee, accompanied by their fifteen-year-old foster daughter, Katie, and
Jennifer's grandfather, begins his own search of the island. As the search by
Lee and the authorities intensifies, he fears beautiful Katie might end up in
the crosshairs of the traffickers.

Can Lee save both his bride and his future daughter? What if
he has to make a choice? If Jennifer is sold, could she kill herself to avoid a
life filled with degradation and horror? If she did, would God forgive her?